What Kind Of Keith Thurman Will We See Saturday Night?

It’s THE question that is an unknown Saturday night headed into the return of former WBA World Welterweight champ Keith “One Time” Thurman in a PBC/Fox Sports pay per view- what kind of Thurman will we see?

It’s been 2 1/2 years since the now 33 year old Thurman was last in the ring and the layoff has many wondering what, if any, of the dazzling speed and power that we saw in the 2010s from “One Time” is still there?

It’s a big part of the discussion we had this week on the Big Fight Weekend Podcast with guest, Dan Canobbio, of “Inside Boxing Live.” Hear our comments, analysis and picks on the fights by clicking below,

“It feels great to be back. The time is now. It feels natural. I was born and raised in this sport. This is where I belong and I’m grateful to be back in this beautiful fight town of Las Vegas,” Thurman told the media Wednesday from the Mandalay Bay Hotel/Casino.

“I missed the action. I love the sport and I love what I bring to the table. I’m looking forward to the challenges that Mario Barrios brings to that ring.

I’m just happy to be here. I’m back where I belong, which is at the forefront of the sport of boxing.”

Now, whether he’s “at the forefront of boxing” at this point is up for debate. Certainly, there was a time where Thurman was regarded as one of the top one or two 147 lb. fighters in the world. He had 22 KOs in 28 bouts, had beaten the likes of Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia and clearly, was in position for a huge PPV showdown.

But, injuries befell him then and caused over a year and a half layoff in 2017 through 2018. Thurman returned to fight contender Josesito Lopez in January of 2019 and won solid, but not spectacular, decision.

That set him up for the fight of his pro career in a Vegas PPV against future Hall of Famer, Manny Pacquiao that July.

As you are probably aware by now, the “Pac-man” floored Thurman with a quick right hook in round one and was surprisingly, at 40 years of age was the quicker more dominant fighter over 12 rounds. Pacquiao got the decision handing Thurman his first pro loss.

And, that’s been it.

For 31 months.

Now, off the Covid 19 shutdown of the sport in the Summer of 2020 and waiting and waiting to figure out whom he would return against, Thurman is back against for WBA “regular” Jr. Welterweight champ, Mario Barrios.

But is he “back?” Or, to what extent?

We’re about to find out.